Chapter Forty-Five: The Two Crown Princes

"Elder Brother, Elder Brother."

A familiar voice came from outside the agritainment courtyard, disturbing Zhang Bo, who was half-dozing in a reclining chair to enjoy the cool breeze.

"Xiao Ju, how long has it been? Why are you here again? Make sure you don't let your playfulness ruin your studies."

In sharp contrast to their previous pattern of meeting every few days, Liu Ju was now visiting about once a day.

"Hehe, Elder Brother, I don't know what's going on, but it seems His Majesty has had the Grand Tutor ease up on my lessons lately. I have much more free time now than before."

As Liu Ju said this, genuine happiness beamed across his face.

His expression was identical to that of a primary school student starting summer vacation.

Easier lessons?

A thoughtful look crossed Zhang Bo's face. He felt he had a vague idea of what Emperor Wu of Han was thinking.

"Haven't seen you in a few days. Is His Majesty exceptionally busy?"

"Yes. In the few days we traveled to the Eastern Han, affairs in the palace piled up like mountains. There are countless matters requiring Father's personal attention: the Xiongnu in the northern deserts are growing restless, Uncle Xuande still needs our help, the issuance of the Wu Zhu coins, and all sorts of other miscellaneous matters, big and small. All of these require Father's final decision."

Goodness, that is a mountain of work.

Zhang Bo immediately thought of Zhu Yuanzhang, the ultimate workaholic emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

Working over a dozen hours a day, day after day, year after year—despite that grind, Old Zhu still managed to live to seventy-one.

Outrageous.

"What about the Grand General and the Champion Marquis?"

"Uncle and Elder Brother have crafted a batch of saddles, stirrups, and horseshoes, and are currently testing their effectiveness."

Zhang Bo nodded. It seemed the Western Han monarch and his ministers were quite busy during this period, leaving Liu Ju with unexpected leisure.

"Alright, Xiao Ju, sit here for a moment. I'll go get something for you to taste."

With that, Zhang Bo rose from his reclining chair and headed toward the vegetable patch.

He planned to pick some fruits and melons, just as he did last time, to satisfy Liu Ju's appetite.

Hearing that there was food, Liu Ju's eyes lit up instantly. He still vividly remembered how delicious the soup noodles from that day had been.

Five minutes later, watching Liu Ju devour his food ravenously, Zhang Bo hurriedly reminded him:

"Xiao Ju, eat slower. There's more."

"Elder Brother, this melon of yours tastes much better than the ones Zhang Qian brought back."

Oh? Zhang Qian?

Zhang Bo's interest was instantly piqued.

Now here was a true historical celebrity.

Having received nine years of compulsory education, Zhang Bo naturally knew all about this legendary figure.

Traveling with an entourage of over a hundred men, he initiated the exploratory journey now commonly known as the Silk Road.

The significance of this mission was monumental and far-reaching.

During the Qin and early Han dynasties, the western boundary of the Central Plains region extended only as far as Lintao Commandery. The Western Regions beyond Lintao remained completely unknown territory to the Qin and Han.

However, Zhang Qian's journey to the Western Regions extended Han influence past the Yumen Pass straight into Central Asia. This enabled the Dayuezhi and Dayuan—kingdoms that previously had no direct borders with Han—to forge close ties with the empire.

Because they shared a common enemy: the Xiongnu.

This was a vital objective of Zhang Qian's diplomatic mission to the Western Regions: to unite various Western Region states with the Han to form a pincer movement and jointly suppress the Xiongnu.

This dealt an even heavier blow to the already beleaguered Xiongnu.

From then on, exchanges between the Central Plains and the states of the Western Regions grew increasingly frequent, naturally evolving into flourishing trade relations.

The Central Plains region could export silk, tea, porcelain, and other treasures highly prized by the people of the Western Regions, while simultaneously importing various seeds, gemstones, and other novelties previously unseen in the Central Plains.

Not only did they acquire fine horse breeds known as "Heavenly Horses," but also crops such as cucumbers, carrots, and spices—crops that continue to thrive and benefit people to this day. All of this was thanks to Zhang Qian's arduous efforts back then.

A sudden thought arose in Zhang Bo's mind: if someone handed Zhang Qian a world map, would he have been able to march straight west all the way to Rome?

Seeing his elder brother sitting there wearing a silly grin, Liu Ju cast a brief glance before turning his attention back to the stainless-steel basin. He was already used to it.

"Elder Brother, what is this?"

"This is a muskmelon. The Han Dynasty probably doesn't have it yet; it won't be introduced until the Northern Wei period, which is three hundred years after the Western Han."

Liu Ju nodded vaguely and resumed eating.

"Xiao Ju, is Zhang Qian currently in Chang'an?"

"Elder Brother, the Marquis of Bowang departed Chang'an last year for the Western Regions."

Ah well, Zhang Qian wasn't around. A bit of a pity.

"However, the Marquis of Bowang sends messengers back at regular intervals to report on progress to Father. For instance, not long ago, his messenger brought back many seeds we had never seen before. There was one variety that left a deep impression on me; it seemed to be called something like *putao*."

*Putao*? Grapes!

"Xiao Ju, stay right here and don't move. I'm going to buy something."

As for what he was buying, it was naturally grapes.

Just right for Liu Ju to taste grapes from later generations.

Not long after Zhang Bo left, Zhu Jiabiao arrived at the agritainment courtyard.

He immediately spotted Liu Ju feasting heartily beside the stone table.

He recalled what the shopkeeper had told him earlier:

Both the Crown Prince Liyi and the Emperor Zhaolie of Han had visited this eatery.

Glancing at the boy's attire and estimating his age, Zhu Biao slowly approached the stone table and asked:

"Are you Liu Ju, the Crown Prince of Han Emperor Liu Che?"

Hearing a somewhat unfamiliar voice, Liu Ju turned his head with chubby, stuffed cheeks.

He saw a somewhat familiar face standing before him.

Liu Ju paused for a moment, searched his memory for the person before him, and remembered.

This was the very person he had crossed paths with the day he left.

Swallowing the muskmelon he had been chewing, Liu Ju wiped the corners of his mouth with a towel and hopped down from the stone stool.

He cupped his hands in a bow toward Zhu Biao and said:

"I am indeed. May I ask how Elder Brother is addressed?"

Though Zhu Biao was mentally prepared, hearing the boy admit it personally still sent a mild shock through his heart.

Could the person before him truly be the Crown Prince Liyi from over a thousand years ago?

Composing himself slightly, he returned the bow.

"I am Zhu Biao, the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty."

The Ming Dynasty!

Liu Ju abruptly raised his head, looking at Zhu Biao with eager eyes.

He harbored a deep curiosity about this dynasty born a millennium into the future.

"Are you the Ming Dynasty that wrote *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*?"

At this, Zhu Biao was somewhat baffled.

What *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*? He had never heard of it.

He only knew the *Records of the Three Kingdoms*.

At that exact moment, Zhang Bo walked into the agritainment courtyard carrying a plastic bag filled with grapes.

Then, he saw Liu Ju and Zhu Biao chatting away.

Ah, the historic first meeting between the Crown Prince of Han and the Crown Prince of Ming.

Zhu Biao noticed Zhang Bo's return.

He remembered the purpose of his visit.

"Shopkeeper, I have an important matter I need to ask you about."